Shoe tree



Feb. 9, 1943.

E. GRAU-KUPFER SHOE TREE Filed Sept. 12. 1941 Patented Feb. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES E ATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in shoe trees; and the object of my improvement is, to afford facilities for warming the inside of the shoe in order to dry wet shoes quickly, and to make putting on of shoe more agreeable in cold weather.

I attain this object by mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a vertical section of the entire device for electrical heating on line l-l, Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a plan view; and Fig. 3, a vertical section of a modification of the device.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the several views.

The outlines of a shoe are shown in dash and dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, shells l and 2, preferably made from two layers of sheet metal, are formed in such a manner that the shell I fits into the rear part of a shoe, and that the shell 2 fits into the front part of a shoe. One end of a coiled spring 3 is secured-preferably by soldering-to the shell l, and the other end of the spring 3 is secured to the shell 2, The tension of this spring 3 biasses the shells I and 2 against the inner sides of the shoe, keeping the shells spaced apart, as shown in Fig. 1.

Electrical heating elements 4-such as commonly used in electric flat irons, etc.-are provided between the layers of the shells. The heating elements within the shell I are connected to the heating elements within the shell 2 by means of a flexible insulated conduit 5. A conduit 6 connects the heating elements 4 to a. contact plug 1.

The modification shown in Fig. 3 provides for hot water containers 8 and 9 instead of shells. The container 8 is shaped to fit into the rear part of a shoe, and the container 9 is shaped to fit into the front part of a shoe. The containers 8 and 9 are connected to each other by a spring H! which biases them against the inner side of the shoe, and keeps them separate as shown in Fig. 3. The apertures through which parts the containers 8 and 9 can be filled with hot water, are provided with covers H. In order to prevent heat from radiating from parts of the shells or water containers which are not in contact with the shoe, a heat insulation I2, preferably a layer of asbestos, is afifixed to those parts by gluing or in any other suitable manner.

It must be understood that various changes as to size, shape and arrangement of the parts can be effectuated without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A shoe tree comprising hollow heel and toe sections adapted to fit the shoe, resilient means for joining said sections and for forcing them into contact with the interior of the shoe, means for permitting heating the interior of said sections adapted to radiate heat equally from all parts of the sections, and heat insulation on those parts of the sections which are not in contact with the shoe.

2. A shoe tree comprising hollow heel and toe sections adapted to fit the shoe and constituting liquid containers, a coiled spring each terminal of which is secured to the upper part of one of said sections while the coil of said spring is adapted to be used as handle, and heat insulation on those parts of the sections which are not in contact with the shoe.

3. A shoe tree comprising hollow heel and toe sections adapted to fit the shoe, electrical heating elements entirely extending throughout said sections and adapted to radiate heat equally from all parts of the sections, heat insulation on those parts of the sections which are not in contact with the shoe, and a coiled spring each terminal of which is secured to the upper part of one of said sections while the coil of said spring is adapted to be used as handle,

ERNST GRAU-KljPFER. 

